Electrical contact device for train-couplings.



\`/.S.\DURB|N. ELECTRICAL-CONTACT DEVICE FOR TRAIN COUPLINGS. APPLICATION FILED JUL-V5. 1912-.

1,1 91mm@ Patented July 11, 1916.

'VOTAW S. DURBIN, OF ST. IJOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO DUItBIN AUTOMATIC TRAIN PHE CONNECTOR COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION 0I? ARIZONA.

ELECTRICAL CONTACT DEVICE FOR TRAIN-COUPLINGS.

transen.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Vo'rAw S. DURBIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrical Contact Devices for Train-Pipe Couplings, of which thefollowing is a specification. l

This invention relates to automatic train pipe couplings of the type more particu larly Vshown in my pending application, No. 693,650, filed April 27th, 1912, and No. 658,667, vtiled November 6th, 1911, the present case being, the latter application, and has for its object to provide a novel arrangement of contact devices for forming an when the coupler-heads are interlocked.

In the train pipe coupling constructed according to my invention, each coupllng head is provided with a pyramidal projection and adjacent thereto with a rectangular opening, the projection of either coupling head being adapted to` enter the opening in the other wheny the two `heads are brought together. This construction enables me to provide means for making electrical connection when the coupling heads are brought to interlocked relation in a way that will insure afirm contact between the two members of the -electrical connection, Iand which will also make the contact members selfcleansing. This latter object is attained by providing for a sliding or wiping engagement of the two contact devices before they are brought to {iXed positoins, so that any particles oi dust orV foreign matter will be brushed oit of the contacts, and the contact surfaces will always be kept clean and smooth, insuring perfectionnection.

In the accompanying is a view in side elevation, partly in section, showing the train pipe coupling heads in interlocked relation, and with a portion of one of the pyramidal projections partly broken away to show the location of two contact devices on one of the coupling heads; Fig. 2 is a plan view, also partly in section and partly broken away, showing two contact devices in engagement; and Fig. 3 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on the line'3-3 of Vig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing, the forward end of a plunger,

i indicates which is Specification of Letters Patent.

ineffect, a division ofelectrical connection drawing Figure l Patented duly 11i, 19416..

Application tiled July 5, 1912. Serial No. 707,761.

side of the coupler-head 4, anda pin 5 is' passed through.k the apertures in the bifurcated end of the plunger and in said projection whereby the coupler-head vis pivotally mounted on said plunger. Each coupier-head has a pyramidal projection 6 lat one side, and adjacent thereto a rectangular opening 6a for receiving the pyramidal projection on the mating coupling head. A central partition 7, which forms a continuation of the projection 6, forms the inner wall of the said opening. To provide for forming an electrical connection the partition 7 is apertured at two points, and vin these apertures there 1s inserted a gasket 8 of insulating material, each of the said apertures being enlarged near its inner end to provide an annular recess 9, forming a shoulder 10, against which the correspondingly large part of the gasket seats. l

y The numeral 11 indicates a contact dej vice, one of which is mounted in each of the gaskets, said contact device being in the form of a pin having ahead 12, the outer face or surface of which is dat, except for a portion near the periphery of the head where it is beveled, as indicated by 13, to enable the two contact devices of the respective coupling heads to more readily slide past and over each other into engagement. vThe opening in the gasket 8 is made interdental to provide ashoulder 14 against which the head 12 may seat, and a similar shoulder 15 against which a coil spring 16 seats, the other end of said spring bearing against the head 12. The outer end of the contact pin 11 is reduced and screwthreaded, as indicated at 17, and on this re- .duced portion is mounted a washer 18 of insulating material, which is adapted to bear against the outer end of the gasket 8, and which is held in such position by means of a nut 19', screwed on the part 17 of the pin.'

Vto eachbinding post by a nut 23, said conductors passing through an opening 24 in 'the other,

the plunger 1, and extending thence back through the casing supporting said plunger and underneath the car to the coupling head on theother end thereof.

I have described the electrical contact devices as applied to one coupling head, but it will be understood that the description applies. indifferently to either coupling head, the said contact devices being mounted in the same way and in a corresponding position in each coupling head. The springs 16 normally press the heads 12 outward and when the contact devices are brought into engagement they will be mutually pressed inward against the resistance of these springs, and thereby held in rm contact. From the position of these said contact devices at opposing side faces of the coupler-heads it Will be seen that when the coupling heads are brought together the outer faces of the heads 12 of the contact devices move over each other under considerable pressure maintained by the springs 16, and the frictional engagement produced by this sliding contact Wipes the surfaces of the heads 12, and insures an intimate contact between them, resulting in perfect electrical connection.

I have not thought it necessary to describe in detail the remaining parts of the train pipe coupling, but for the purpose of rendering the illustration clear I Will state that the numerals 25, 26 and 27 illustrate, respectively, the air and steam pipes, the ends of which are secured to the coupler-heads, and,

which are connected when the said heads are brought into interlocked relation. The construction of the coupling heads and connected parts is exactly the same as fully illustrated and described in my said application No. 693,650. y

y invention enables me to provide for automatically. effecting electrical connection throughout the length of a train whereby telephonie and telegraphic communication may be established from one end thereof to and of course with any particular car. This invention will be especially beneficial in use on long freight trains enabling .pair of mating coupler heads having operators at the rear end of the trains to communicate with the engineer.

I claim: In a coupling of the character described, a juxtaposed longitudinal body portions whose meeting faces are adjacent to a median line when in the coupled relation, each of said coupler heads having a lateral extension on one side of the body portion, a forward projection on said lateral extension, said projection being tapered toward its end and square at its base with respect to the face of said lateral extension, and an oppositelydisposed lateral extension on the other side of the body portion, said last-mentioned lateral extension having an opening therein which is a counterpart of the base portion of said forward projection, whereby the forward projection on the lateral extension of the one coupler head enters the opening in the meeting lateral extension of the other coupler head, so that, in the coupled relation, said lateral extensions are brought together and the base portions of said projections cooperate with the walls of said openings to prevent lateral separation of the coupler head, and coperativelyopposed springpressed electrical contact members mounted in said body port-ions so as to work transversely thereof in the region of said lateral extensions, the axes of said contact members substantially coinciding on a median line between the meeting faces of said lateral extensions When the coupler heads are in the coupled relation, and the ends of said contact members projecting normally beyond the respective meeting longitudinal faces of said body portions and having their edges shaped so as to slide edgewise into engagement.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. VOTAW S. DURBIN. Witnesses BRUCE S. ELLIOTT, STELLA HILL. 

